Faces Reunion Could Still Happen, Says Kenney Jones

Rod Stewart said it was happening, then Ian McLagan said it wasn't -- but according to Faces drummer Kenney Jones, we could actually see the band's long-awaited reunion with Stewart come together in 2015.

Jones recently told Billboard that even though they're still early in the process, talks between the various management companies representing the former Faces (including current Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood) are ongoing. As for why McLagan scoffed at the idea of a reunion, Jones says, "Mac didn't realize we were talking because it was in its early stages, but he understands full now. [Stewart] probably presumed everyone knew we were doing it, so there was nothing intentional."

Saying that a reunion "would be lovely to do," Jones added, "We've been talking about it [for] long enough. You've got to start talking about it about a year ahead of you're going to do something. The Faces never finished on a good note [in 1975], so it would be nice to finish on a good note, and that would be that."

Jones' comments reflect statements he made during the Faces' final tour, when he lamented to Rolling Stone, "I don't think the Faces have been given a chance yet, as far as recording a good album. The ones we've made in the past were mostly leftover ideas, from Rod's albums and later from Woody's. You've got to go in with concrete ideas. We've never done that."

As longtime Faces fans remember, it was Stewart's burgeoning solo career that helped drive the band apart in the mid '70s, but even then, he seemed ambivalent about closing the door on the group; in 1975, after predicting they'd break up, he mused, "The band's so good now. It's gettin' better every night. You know, we're a lot better together than we ever would be apart ... As long as the band's there, I'll be there."

And now, says Jones, the time could finally be right. Telling Billboard that Stewart's 'American Songbook' records kept him away from his rock roots for years, he continued, "I loved the 'Songbook's; a lot of people say it's not really rock 'n' roll or this or that, but they're the songs I grew up with, and they're great songs. Why not go with them? I think he did a great job, but now he's discovered himself again. He's going back to his roots, a bit more rock 'n' roll, so this is a good time."